[Anomaly]

Time was moving on...the old gentlemen had just about finished their game, the children had long since gotten bored and run out into the sunshine, Baxter had begged leave to go answer a call of nature, and Isaac's mug was empty. The barmaid scooped up his mug, knowing there would be no call for another round. Fingers steepled in front of his face, it looked as though there was something on the old engineer's mind.

"So...how's your mother holding up?"

It's a question out of the blue, but from the barmaids reaction, it was a question she'd been answering a lot lately.

"She's...doing better. Moved in with our aunt near the capital. She...sent me a letter awhile back...first time we spoke since Pa died. Saying she wants me to sell the pub and make a fresh start of it with her in the capital..."

Isaac stares at her blankly, not really glaring, but clearly waiting for something. Lily smiles brightly...perhaps a little too brightly. The brittle smile spawned of a thousand sorrows.

"But you know...I just can't bring myself to sell the place. Even with that beast ravaging our town, everyone up and leaving...even with it killing our Pa. This pub was his dream...he worked hard to build it, and it always put food on the table. There are so many memories here...too many for my mother..."

"I know...but you have to worry about yourself Lil...worry about your own dreams...not your Pa's and not your Ma's." Isaac turns and looks at the slant of the sunlight out the door. It's almost time to form ranks...that fatheaded Wuith captain never showed his ugly mug. That probably meant they were well down the path now, probably in the thick of the forest, stirring up who knew what mess of trouble.

"Its easy for you to say Isaac...but even if I did shut this pub down like my mother wants, there's all these people that rely on this place. Not just for a drink and a bed to sleep in while they try to rebuild their homes, but as a calm eye in these stormy times. They've got enough dragging them down without having a place to go for a few moments of relief. If...if I go I'm afraid it might be all over for Emerit. Even if the military or oyur boys take care of that dragon, do you really think those that have left will come back here now?"

"Is that what you're afraid of or what you're hoping for Lily?" The Barmaid glares at him and her fists clench. Her jaws set just like her Pa's, oh no. "Now don't go getting offended. I know you love this place, but you're not a little girl anymore Lily. It was good of you to take over your fathers business, and I have to commend you wanting to keep things going through this rough patch. But you have to promise me, after we slay this dragon, you'll give some serious thought to finding someone else to run this place for you and your Ma, and you start living the life you want. You don't want to end up old like me before you know it!"

The last comment gets a smile.

"You talk about killing that horror as if its just a matter of course. Pa and the other town militia weren't so lucky. Do you really think you can put a stop to this nightmare?"

Isaac gets to his feet and plonks some money down on the counter, far more than his drink was actually worth.

"Every dream has to end sometime, even the bad ones. Thanks for the drink Lil."

With that he walks out of the Glistening Plum, never looking back, heading for the town sqaure and his men.
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A few moments later private Baxter walks out of the pubs privey. He goes to take his seat at the bar and notices that the captains nowhere to be seen. The barmaid stands there, shivering, a wad of money clutched in her hand...and tears dripping on the freshly polished bar. He starts to ask her something, then looks out the front door at the slant of the sunlight.

Swearing, he dashes out of the doors, praying the captain doesn't count him as AWOL for losing track of time.

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"Captain Direson sir! All accounted for but private Baxter, private Lewis, and Sen Iota sir!"

"At ease."

Sen had undoubtedly took his hint and gone on ahead. Baxter would likely be along shortly. There was no accounting for Lewis, but if he was AWOL there was nothing he could do about it now. Best thing to do at a time like this was to just press forward. Though he really didn't care who landed the finishing blow, it really would look bad if the Therus Company's unit was not even present when Wuith threw their soldiers at the beast again.

"Alright you horrible lot...on me, we're marching through the forest to this beasties cave. Keep your eyes open, as we'll probably be running into some rather scared animals if there are any still around. I don't need to tell you that even a deers deadly when mad with fear, so stay sharp people. We run into the Wuith boys, you'll keep your ranks until told otherwise. Don't fall behind or you'll be left behind."

"Yes Sir!"

"Right then, double time!"

Leaving a cloud of dust, the TWC Military march out to do battle. A few minutes later a straggling soldier, weezing and swearing pounds after their trail.